Precautions at the Eucharist during the Swine Flu Pandemic

This week Bishop Nigel has issued further guidelines on how Churches should respond to the current Swine Flu Pandemic. These guidelines draw together advice from Governments and the NHS, the Wider Anglican Communion and the Church of England and take our local situation into account. Much advice is based on a paper prepared for the Church in Canada by Dr David Gould, and John has read this through.

The most important point is that the sharing of the bread and drinking from a shared chalice presents virtually no hazard for healthy people. Studies have shown that, even in disease epidemics, communicant Christians are no more likely to develop infection than non-communicants. This applies also to clergy and Eucharistic ministers who eat and drink the elements that remain after Communion. Nevertheless those who are ill for any cause or have a lowered resistance to infection may be at a slightly increased risk.

Taking these points and all the guidelines into account we have concluded that the most measured way forward from 26th July 2009 will be.

All members of the congregation will receive in one kind only, as recommended by Bishop Nigel. Communion in one kind has always been accepted as valid and is often the normal practice in the Roman Catholic Church.

The wafer should be received in the hands, not on the tongue. We recognise that direct reception is special for some people but we have been advised that this should stop for the time being.

Please notify the clergy (directly or through your network group leader) if you or a close relative develop swine flu. If cases do develop within our church community our practice may need to change.

While we wish to continue sharing the peace, the recommendations are that we do it verbally and without physical contact.

Should you wish to ask questions about these precautions, do contact a member of the clergy.